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Laguna Beach: Recommendations?

post #1 of 18
9/1/07 at 12:07pm
Thread Starter 
I have another trip in October to Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo for 2 weeks.

What do you recommend to do? Eating? Drinking? Driving? Places? Events? etc.


Thanks in advance

If anyone wants to grab a beer, wine or protein shake I'm buying (haha)
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post #2 of 18
9/1/07 at 12:24pm
Staying at the Regis or the Ritz?
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post #3 of 18
9/1/07 at 12:25pm
Great time of year to be in Laguna. It should be gorgeous. I haven't lived there in a while, so I don't know the current hot spots. Maybe another OC member will have some better restaurant rec's for you. These are some of my fave things to do:

- Nice walk along Cliff Drive and Heisler Park
- Crystal Cove State Beach (what California was like in the 20s)*
- Laguna Beach Art Museum can have some decent exhibits
- Tippecanoe is a fun vintage clothing shop on PCH around Cleo
- Zinc Cafe for breakfast or lunch. Ocean Ave downtown
- Thalia Street Surf Shop on PCH and Thalia

Have fun.

* as long as you don't look up the hill at the mega development of Newport Coast
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post #4 of 18
9/1/07 at 5:35pm
That's my hometown. I'm actually typing this from my mom's house, looking out over the deck at the Montage resort and the ocean beyond. Parker's recommendations are all good. I'd also go by the Montage and get a drink and have a walk through the park in front of the hotel. The beach below the resort is beautiful too. There are a three great Mexican spots in Laguna. -Downtown (next door to Tippecanoe, referenced by Parker) is Taco Loco - great exotic tacos - lobster, calimari, shrip, mushroom, etc. Have some tacos and beers and watch the people stroll by. -Also Downtown, but hidden away on Mermaid St. is La Sirena Grill. My favorite - traditional tacqueria fare but made with super high quality ingredients to give it a gourmet flair. Everything on the menu is great. - Papa's Tacos in South Laguna, pretty much a locals only type spot. The fish tacos are huge and made with fresh grilled mahi mahi served on fresh tortillas and with a two great house made salsas. I'm down here all the time - PM me when you're here and I'll meet you for a drink if I can make it down.
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post #5 of 18
9/1/07 at 5:55pm
My girlfriend recently took me out to dinner, to celebrate my "employee of the month" status, at Splashes restaurant at the Surf & Sand hotel in Laguna Beach.

Food was good and the ocean view is a nice touch. I guess it would be romantic place to eat if you bring along your lady friend
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post #6 of 18
9/1/07 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the recommendations:

I'll be there and most likely free:
10/12/07 Friday after 7pm-all day Saturday and thru 10/14/07 Sunday

I pm'ed Baron..so anybody else just pm me and will grab some drinks/views and girls if I'm allowed.
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post #7 of 18
9/1/07 at 6:29pm
The patio outside on Las Brisas is a nice place to check out the beach/ocean view. Not super fond of the restaurant itself but the patio is always nice and has some reasonably good food and strong drinks.
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post #8 of 18
9/2/07 at 2:31am
Oh yeah, the Montage is worth a visit. There's a nice bar overlooking the point. Try to time it for a sunset cocktail. and +1 on the taco recs.

Baron, did you grow up in LB? My parents live in North Laguna. I'm down there a bunch too.
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post #9 of 18
9/2/07 at 1:22pm
Let me know if you guys decide to meet up on the weekend of Oct. 12th. It's always cool to hang out with new friends, especially if good tacos and beer are in the mix!
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post #10 of 18
9/2/07 at 2:26pm
Yeah, I grew up in Laguna, went to high school here. My parents and my sister still live there.
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post #11 of 18
9/2/07 at 3:45pm
Baron: Has LB changed from its rep as a big gay spot? I only mention this in reference to Soph's statement about grabbing some girls. In other words, Soph should make sure the person he grabs is a girl.
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post #12 of 18
9/2/07 at 4:28pm
laguna beach is near where i work , san clemente. hey , stop by and i will buy you free Pick Up Stix lunch.
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post #13 of 18
9/2/07 at 5:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bachbeet View Post
Baron: Has LB changed from its rep as a big gay spot? I only mention this in reference to Soph's statement about grabbing some girls. In other words, Soph should make sure the person he grabs is a girl.

I never heard Laguna Beach as being a "gay spot". I believe it has a reputation of being an artistic colony. Certainly there are plenty of hot girls everywhere. You may have it mistaken with the other LB (Long Beach) which I heard has the largest alternative lifestyle population outside of SF. But what the hell do I know?
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post #14 of 18
9/2/07 at 9:45pm
Laguna had a very big gay population in the 70's and 80's (it was the city with the highest percentage of gay residents before West Hollywood incorporated) and it was a very big gay vacation spot, but it has changed a bit since then. Laguna had a big population of hippies, artists, and eccentric street people that everyone knew by name when I was a kid. Now it's filled with 5 star hotels and $15M second homes. A lot of the old landmark gay bars are gone - I think only one remains. The Laguna gay scene doesn't seem very heavy on transvestites, so Soph won't need to do any package checks on women he meets out on the town.
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post #15 of 18
9/3/07 at 12:13am
I might be down to hang out as well. Not too far a drive for me from the aboveformentioned mega-development in Newport Coast.
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